Ariwodola Idowu
Ado Ekiti – In its bid to ensure bumper harvest and profitable agricultural business, Ekiti State government, on Friday, began sale of fertilisers to all categories of farmers in the state at subsidised rate.
Speaking at the flag off of sales of the first batch of 6,000 bags of 20:10:10 NPK fertiliser in Ado-Ekiti, Gov. Kayode Fayemi said that the step was part of his administration’s determination to support farmers to boost their yield.
He said that his administration had partnered with a firm, Tax Agro and Chemicals Nigeria Limited, to sell fertilisers to farmers across the state at a subsidised rate of N5,500 per bag.
The governor, who spoke through the Secretary to the State Government,
Mr Abiodun Oyebanji, stressed that his government was working
assiduously to provide an enabling environment for food security, job creation and employment opportunities for the populace.
Fayemi, who described fertilisers one of the most expensive farm inputs and key component in profitable agricultural business, urged farmers to make judicious use of the product.
He explained that comprehensive research and analysis of Ekiti soil had been done before coming up with that particular brand of fertiliser.
Earlier in his welcome address, the state Commissioner for Agriculture and
Rural Development, Mr Folorunso Olabode, said that measures would be put in place to ensure that the fertilisers were used within the state.
Speaking on behalf of the farmers, Mr Alagbada Adeniran, Chairman, state chapter of All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), thanked the governor for his prompt response to their needs.
He pledged his members’ continued support to the state government to ensure the success of its policies and programmes, especially in the area of agriculture which, he said, was one of its five developmental agenda.